Not being able to go in with her, I wait outside. Julianna’s eyes are red, but I’m sure it’s from the cold.
“Go inside, get ready for dinner,” I say.
“I’m not hungry.”
Neither am I.
I can’t help but worry about Cali and how she’s doing.
“It’s all my fault.” Her eyes fill with tears.
“What is?” I ask, pulling her in for a hug.
“Cali wouldn’t have gone skiing if I didn’t talk her into it. It’s my fault she’s hurt.”
I rub Julianna’s back and bring her inside the waiting room area of the clinic. At least it’s warm inside. I may not deserve the warmth, but my daughter doesn’t need to suffer because of the things I said that hurt Cali.
“This isn’t your fault. It was an accident,” I say. “You should get dinner. You can call up Izzie and see if she’d like to join you.”
“She has plans. I’ll wait here. I want to see Cali.”
I sit on the hard plastic chair. “Me too,” I say.
“You’re not going to give her a hard time when you see her.” Julianna slips off her coat, hands me the jacket, and folds her arms across her chest.
I shove her jacket back at her. “Go put this away.”
She groans and rolls her eyes. “Fine. But I’m going to freeze in the atrium.”
“You’ll survive for five minutes.”
She huffs and hurries out of the clinic to the main lodge. She’s not in the atrium for more than a few seconds, hightailing it as quickly as possible.
Silence fills the room, and eventually, Cali emerges from the back with a set of crutches.
This can’t go over well. The girl can barely walk on two feet, and she’s got crutches?
“Just a sprained ankle and bruised knee,” Cali says. “Doctor says I’m lucky I didn’t break a bone.”
“And the crutches are for—”
“Stability, so that I can get from one side of the lodge to the other. And you don’t have to carry me.” She grins cheekily.
My cock twitches in my jeans at the memory of carrying her. I clear my throat, needing a distraction. The frigid temperatures outside should do it. “Are you ready?” I ask, opening the door.
Cali winces from the chill and then hobbles, using the crutches through the atrium. It takes her longer than it should. She’s not great on them, and to say I’m not concerned is an understatement.
I keep waiting for her to tip over, and for me to leap in to catch her.
I grab the door to the lodge, holding it open for her as she makes it slowly inside.
“Cali!” Julianna squeals, and comes running from down the hallway toward us.
“Hey,” Cali says, and gives a warm smile. “Thanks for bringing help.”
“Even if it was the cranky old man?” Julianna quips.
“I’m right here,” I say, waving my hand in front of them. They’re acting as if I were invisible, talking about me right in front of me.